Entry 13:
"as she met the same sanctified frown of some matron, who, according to the rumor of all tongues, had kept cold snow within her bosom throughout life"
The matron is one who kept their heart away from anything and was never able to open up to anyone which is why she's 'cold.' She's too focused on being pure.
"The unsunned snow in the matron's bosom, and the burning shame on Hester Prynne's-what had the two in common? "
Matron--> cold snow~unsunned snow- compared to burning shame.
Both the Matron and Hester Prynne are sort of outcasts but in different ways, the Matron being shameless, and Hester being shameful.
Think here the difference between the matron who has remained cold vs. Hester who has burned with passion - which is worse? What does Hawthorne think and how do you know this? Think TONE.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne would rather be Hester because the tone is more harsh towards the matron than towards Hester, he's more on her side. " frown of some matron"
ReplyDelete